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Saturday, January 26, 2013

I Like My Serial Hot

Actually, that's not precisely true. I like cold cereal, too. I don't actually eat any kind of cereal very often, but, if you're talking hot cereal, I make awesome grits. No, seriously. Yeah, I've dealt with you grit haters before. I've converted every single one of them that I've had the opportunity to make grits for. Starting with my wife way back when, because she tried to refuse to try them the first time I made them. Hmm... now, I want grits.

But, yeah, we're not really here to talk about cereal, are we? So on the subject of serials...

I learned in the last week that John Scalzi, whom I have never read but who seems to be kind of a big deal, has just started releasing his new sci-fi novel serially. Part two of his serialization just came out, and, now, I'm trying to decide if I want to read it. Not part two, the whole thing. Silly people. Anyway, looking over the reviews of part two, it looks like a lot of people are upset over the length while still loving the story. But, then, Scalzi isn't giving any of his installments away for free.

On the other side, the reviews for part one of his series were exceedingly positive and frequently very supportive of the serialization.

It shows why this serialization thing is an experiment.

And speaking of serializations...

As I mentioned, I finished Shadow Spinner last week, but that doesn't mean the serialization has ended. For one thing, I finished writing it, but I haven't even started editing yet. I did get some proof copies ordered, though, and, remember, that's one of the prizes in the Great Chocolate Contest (so you want to click that link and get right on that)! For another thing, I don't, yet, have a cover for the book, because, yes, the cover needs to be different from the serial covers in that it needs to be representative of the entire book, not just a chapter. That being said, the incredibly awesome Rusty is working with me on cover ideas. Okay, I asked him to come up with ideas. See, that's how much I trust his awesome artistic abilities! And, well, there are other things here and there that still need to be tweaked, so no actual release date, yet.

To preserve the serialization experience, I've decided to do some different things with the release of Spinner. Once I have the everything finished and it's ready to go, I'm only, initially, going to release it as a physical book. That will be for those people that really want to read the whole thing right now. Instead of having to wait two weeks for each e-part, you'll be able to order the whole thing as a physical copy. Once the serialization is over, the whole book will be available for the Kindle and (probably) the Nook. That's the plan, anyway. We'll see how it works out. At some point, I'll have my full report ready as to how I think this serialization thing worked out.

And, then, going back to the whole listopia thing, I have The House on the Corner and "Christmas on the Corner" on the Magical children's books list. [Actually, I have "The Tunnel" on there, too, but, even though there is magic in Shadow Spinner, it strikes me as less magical as a book. Yeah, don't ask me to explain that.] Anyway, it would be incredibly awesome if you guys could see your way over there to vote on it. If you've read it, that is. I can't bring myself to ask you to just go vote on it just for the sake of voting. So, yeah, there it is.

10 comments:

Be interesting to see how well the physical book does. When you do the eBook, make it available for the iBookstore. Some of us have an infinite supply of iTunes cards you know. (And yes, I have all twelve parts of Shadow Spinner already.)Trust Rusty! He's editing the synopsis for my next book. Considering he helped put together the outline and critiqued the manuscript, I think he knows CassaStorm as well as I do.And I've had grits. Twice. Disgusting.

Sorry, but I will be waiting til its available as a complete ebook. I did read The Tunnel, it was good, but I like my books in one piece. I don't like serials even though I am watching Downton Abbey.

As for cereals, I never liked grits till I discovered Shrimp and Grits. Still not sure I would like grits for breakfast though. There is a young woman from Georgia who works for our doc. Knowing we were going south last year, she requested boiled peanuts and grits. Hubby tried peanuts and thought they were disgusting.

Hey Andrew! Before I comment on the grits, I have an award for you over on my blog...now, as to the grits, they're not something we really have in Canada. I'm sure they're available somewhere, but they're sort of obscure up here. Having lived in Oklahoma though, when I was married to an American, I am a Canadian who has had grits. It was a long time ago so I don't really remember what they tasted like, but I do remember not liking them. I love porridge though! and congrats on being such a prolific writer! I do like the idea of serialized books. I remember back when Stephen King did that with the Green Mile. I could not wait for the next installment. It was fantastic!

Alex: I'm wondering that, too, with the physical book. Will people buy it to get the whole story, or will people just wait for the ebook?I will see what I can do about the iBookstore. I still haven't figured that place out. (Spinner is at 13, now, btw.)You just haven't had my grits. :P

L.G.: I hope so! That's what this whole experiment is about, after all.

Jo: It will be available... sometime.Boiled peanuts sounds awful.

Eve: Grits are hard to make well. Most places make them too runny and don't do anything to enhance the flavor other than throw butter in.Thanks for the award!

Anne: That is why I do try and make all the pieces free as often as possible. I don't really expect (or want) anyone to have to buy all of the pieces. I'd just make them free permanently but Amazon won't let me. :(I'm not a huge fan of fried grits, but that might be because I've never bothered to figure out how that's done.

I'm a big fan of grits, you can serve them with just about every meal, and make them dessert too! I grew up eating hot cereals all the time, Oatmeal, Cream of Rice, Cream of Wheat, Grits.... I never really thought of them as a cereal, since they were always so much more versatile.

Yum.

Scalzi tends to write very witty novels. Not Douglas Adams wacky, but still very humor laced. I've read almost everything he's published (aside from Agent to the Stars and a YA book he's done), but I'll plan on reading his new one once it's released as a complete book. I have a reading list long enough that I don't have to read his stuff the second it's out... I can wait. But I think I mentioned to you that I prefer having the full story in front of me. It's just harder to get really engrossed in a story if I feel like staying up all night because I can't put it down.

Anyway, I agree that serials can be an awesome way to get an audience. I'm serializing a book right now for free on an online website that my blogger buddies don't really know about. I've discovered quite a few readers there. Each Friday, I post one single chapter of about 3000 words. And I get fan mail. It's a lot of fun.

Rusty: I've never had Cream of Rice, but my brother spent about a year when just about the only thing he would eat was Cream of Wheat. We had that a lot that year.I'm sure that I don't make grits often enough for my kids.

PT: I'm kind of surprised there's not bacon flavored cereal.

Michael: Serializing has certainly been an interesting journey so far. I've really enjoyed that some people that would never have found the blog have found Spinner through the giveaways and enjoyed it enough to leave a review.

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About Me

I got a degree in English with the intent to write. Then, I got busy with other things, including getting married and having kids, and let the whole writing thing get away from me. 20 years later, I'm finally doing it. My first novel is currently available through Amazon on the Kindle and as a physical book.